Apr 7, 2021 - -Day 1 - Ghan Adelaide to Darwin

This is not how we usually start our holidays....packing the port the day before! That's the way Margaret and Pam do it, but not us. But we had no choice. Late Thursday afternoon before Easter, we had a call from Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions asking for Cathy. I explained that this wasn't Cathy's number but she was our Travel Agent. She then said that because Brisbane was a Covid 'hotspot' we wouldn't be allowed to join the train. I told her that we'd self-isolated since the outbreak and that we'd had our first Covid jab, but she said...

Oct 23, 2020 - Bundaberg to Brisbane

Wed 23rd Oct - Bundaberg to Brisbane I slept soundly through to Bundaberg - about 6:00am when the sun was up and streaming through the windows that had blinds up. I know it’s an illusion but the trip seems shorter coming home to what it did going. The most remarkable thing this morning is the amount of water in creeks dams and rivers and the different colour with everything having some sort of shade of green as opposed to out west where all the colours are shades of brown. Oh how we need rain. The promise of a La Nina weather system is...

Oct 22, 2020 - Longreach to Rockhampton

YAY - finally got my photo allocation back!!!! Jan and I were reflecting again yesterday how relaxing this holiday has been compared to how our usual holidays in the cvan go when we are on the move from place to place and endeavouring to see as much as possible within a limited time. I must be excited about going home, I didn’t sleep too well last night but we were up at 6:45 this morning and on Zoom at 7:30 for the prayer gathering. The bags were packed and taken over to the station (just across the road) and we were all sitting around...

Oct 21, 2020 - Stockman's Hall of Fame

Wed 21st Oct - Stockman’s Hall of Fame I was up early this morning (if you call 7:15 early) and was sitting outside with Joan when a couple of blokes left the motel. They told us they were on their way to Quilpie for a videography job they had to do. They come from Byron Bay but have been outback for a couple of weeks doing various assignments. They told us about the time when they passed through Yaraka and did a short video they put up on YouTube about the emus there. Apparently they like making their way into the pub and up to the bar....

Oct 20, 2020 - Qantas museum again for 5

Tue 20th Oct - Qantas museum again for 5 This morning we intended for 6 of us to return to the Founders Museum (on a no-cost re-entry pass) to finish looking at the displays. 2 pulled out and one joined in so Chris, Graham, Cheryl, Jan and Ron headed out by taxi. We were going to do it after m/tea but the gathering, chatting and encouragement for Verna went much later so we changed our plan to go after lunch. This time at the museum we were able to see the full movie of the transfer of the 707 to Longreach, saw the first half of the movie...

Oct 19, 2020 - Winton for 5 - Light Show at night

MON 19th Oct - Winton for 5 - a rest day for 9 - Light Show for 14 This morning Jan received the sad news that Aunty Tootie (her 97yr old Aunty Alice) had passed away last night. Our heart goes out to Lyn and her siblings as they mourn her passing. Verna hired a car for the day - Kia Carnival - delivered at 8 and soon after 5 of our party left for a day trip to Winton 180kms NW. The rest of us chatted, read, and shopped downtown until the late afternoon when we ensured we were ready to leave at 6:15 for the Light Show at the QANTA Museum....

Oct 18, 2020 - NBC live stream and Local service

SUN 18th Oct - NBC Live - Longreach Salvos I’ve caught up on sleep, so I was awake in time to grab a cuppa and log in to the NBC prayer group at 8:30. It’s Verna’s birthday today so we gathered outside her door this morning to sing Happy Birthday. Then breakfast as soon as Jan was up and we’ve still plenty of time till the NBC Life Stream service from Brisbane. It was a momentous service as it is the 1st one back together face-to-face. However it had to be ticketed to meet Covid restrictions so there are only 100 in the main auditorium, 25...

Oct 17, 2020 - to QANTAS Museum

Yay - I've been able to post an extra 20 pics so you can backtrack to Entry 5 on the 14th to check out the photos Sat 17th Oct - QANTAS Museum These heavy curtains together with an air conditioner through the night are a guarantee that we won’t wake early. Once again we aren’t up before 8am - but we did wake fresh after a good night’s sleep. The morning was quiet but Jan and I did scoot down town to get a couple of items from the shopping centre 7minute walk away. 4 others hired a taxi to go downtown and do some shopping and spend time in...

Oct 16, 2020 - walk to Beersheba, river dinner

FRI 16th Oct - walk Beersheba, river dinner We were late up this morning (one later than the other). Ron managed to have a cuppa and do a bit more journalling before Jan surfaced. We still managed to have breakfast before the scheduled m/tea with the group at 10:00, but not much before mind you! Just the two of us walked to the Arts and Crafts Centre only to find that it was closed - not open for another hour yet. The building is actually the old QATB building (space inside the doors for about 4 vehicles. It is now heritage listed. On we...

Oct 15, 2020 - town orientation and RSL

THU - 15th Oct - town orientation, RSL Trivia question - Is the town of Longreach north or south of the Tropic of Capricorn? It had been decided to have a quiet day, nothing organised, just pickup some groceries, check out some shops, etc. 'Orientation' means:- where are the nearest Coffee and Bakery shops!!! We were told last night that the Outback Aussie Tours coach with a friend driving it would be due in at their office (across the road in the railway station building) at 9:00am so Ron walked over to meet it. Sure enough it arrived on...

Oct 14, 2020 - Rockhampton to Barcaldine

WED - 14th Oct - enroute Rockhampton to Barcaldine At various places there are signs of recent rain in the last few days. Also saw a couple of brolgas moving away from near the train line. There were several long stretches of slow travel - one of the staff had indicated that prolonged heat causes buckling of rails requiring a slower speed to navigate those areas. Also came across a couple of large work gangs working on the rails requiring a slower speed. Crossing the Drummond Range after we passed through Anakie was a long very slow climb....

Oct 14, 2020 - Maryborough to Rockhampton

WED - 14th Oct - enroute Maryborough to Barcaldine I think we were probably somewhere near Maryborough at about midnight. After that I (Ron) dropped off into a light sleep. I awoke when the train stopped at Rockhampton station at 4:40. Got up and hung around at the open door but didn’t go onto the platform. To make the change onto the west bound line, a loco from the front dropped off, went to the rear and coupled up creating 3 or 4 severe bumps which even the sound sleepers heard and felt. Then the train moved in reverse for 5 - 10kms out...